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Humans have been decorating their bodies with ornaments long before written history began. From shells and animal teeth to sparkling diamonds, we’ve always found ways to celebrate the beauty of nature’s treasures. After all, who doesn’t enjoy wearing something shiny and elegant?
However, there are ten jewelry styles that even the most fashion-forward individuals might reconsider wearing.
10. Jewelry Made from Human Hair
After my grandmother passed away, while sorting through her possessions, I discovered a delicately crafted necklace. It was a piece of “micro macrame” (yes, that’s a real technique!). The design was stunningly intricate, featuring elaborate swirls, twists, and knots that must have taken countless hours for a skilled artisan to create. To my surprise, it was made entirely from human hair.
From the 17th century to the Victorian era, memorial hair jewelry was widely popular. Known as mourning jewelry, it often included strands of hair from deceased loved ones, crafted into rings, brooches, and necklaces. Queen Victoria famously wore a locket containing a lock of hair from her husband, Prince Albert, after he died of typhoid in 1861. She also gifted jewelry made from her own hair to her nine children and 42 grandchildren.
It is believed that because hair decomposes much slower than the rest of the body, it serves as an ideal symbol of eternal life and the enduring memory of those who have passed away.
9. Jewelry Made from Human Teeth
Similar to hair jewelry, though perhaps more reminiscent of a grim project by Ed Gein, human teeth jewelry dates back to a Neolithic settlement approximately 9,000 years ago. Archaeologists in Turkey discovered modified human molars in Çatalhöyük, with holes drilled to allow them to be strung on leather cords or animal sinew.
Queen Victoria also makes an appearance here, as she owned an enamel brooch featuring a thistle design, with the tuft made from one of her children’s baby teeth.
Recently, Melbourne-based jewelry designer Polly Van Der Glas unveiled a collection featuring human teeth set in sterling silver. Interestingly, she offers a 10% discount on custom pieces if customers supply their own teeth.
A quick search on Etsy reveals over 790 listings for jewelry made from human teeth, proving it remains a popular choice for many enthusiasts.
8. Jewelry Made from Breast Milk
Yes, you read that correctly—breast milk. If Queen Victoria’s hair locket and tooth brooch seemed unusual, now you can immortalize breast milk in a unique keepsake. The milk is dehydrated and then mixed with epoxy resin or coated with a clear glaze.
One product description states, 'What a beautiful way to preserve the ‘liquid gold’ that we can only produce for a limited time. This timeless piece can be passed down through generations, making it a meaningful gift for your child, symbolizing the foundation of their survival.'
Another vendor explains, 'Our breast milk jewelry offers a stunning way to celebrate your breastfeeding journey. Your milk is preserved in a resin stone, with the option to include hair or even an umbilical cord for added personalization.'
For those who enjoy crafting, DIY kits are also an option.
I can’t help but wonder if my husband would appreciate a pair of cufflinks made from breast milk and umbilical cord as a Christmas gift.
7. Jewelry Made from Cremated Remains (Ashes)
I must admit, some of the jewelry designed to hold the ashes of a loved one actually looks quite stylish and meaningful.
Cremated ashes can be integrated into jewelry in various ways. The simplest method involves placing a small amount of ashes into a tiny urn, ideally one with a secure lid. Alternatively, ashes can be mixed into glass to create beads or a central pendant. Glass is incredibly versatile, allowing for a wide range of colors, finishes, shapes, and textures, making it an ideal medium for incorporating ashes—far simpler than dehydrating breast milk!
While less than a teaspoon of ashes is needed for glass jewelry, creating a memorial diamond requires 100–200 grams (¼–½ pound) of ashes or 2–8 grams (up to ¼ ounce) of hair. The carbon is extracted and purified from the ashes or hair, then subjected to extreme heat and pressure exceeding 2,000°C (3,632°F) to form a diamond 'seed.' Over time, crystallization occurs around the seed, resulting in a rough diamond. This is then evaluated for quality, cut, and polished, much like a natural diamond.
Lab-created memorial diamonds are nearly indistinguishable from mined diamonds in terms of brilliance, shine, and durability. Unlike natural diamonds, which require mining, cremation diamonds are environmentally friendly and avoid the ethical concerns associated with exploiting poorer nations.
In recent years, ethical concerns about blood diamonds or conflict diamonds have grown. These gems are sourced from regions controlled by rebel groups rather than legitimate governments, often funding violence and human rights abuses against indigenous populations.
The widespread appeal of diamonds is largely the result of a long-running and effective marketing campaign, making cremation diamonds a promising and ethical alternative.
6. Jewelry Made from an IUD
For those unfamiliar with abbreviations, an IUD stands for Intrauterine Device. It’s a long-term, reversible contraceptive method inserted into the uterus to prevent pregnancy.
As a quick note, it’s one of the most reliable forms of birth control, with an effectiveness rate of over 99%.
Jacqui, a jewelry designer based in Melbourne, Australia, specializes in creating custom pieces from materials like hair, teeth, and even bone to honor the deceased. However, her most unusual request was crafting a necklace from a used IUD—yes, the contraceptive device inserted into women.
Jacqui later explained, 'I turned down the request because plastic is hard to sanitize, and I couldn’t ensure the piece’s durability.' While this particular item wasn’t made into jewelry, it’s safe to assume the customer found another willing artist. Replicas, however, can still be found on Etsy.
5. Jewelry Featuring Live Insects
Indeed, the trendsetting Victorians struck again, ushering in an era where it was perfectly acceptable to step out adorned with a living insect or two.
Some believe this bizarre trend emerged as a reaction to growing environmental concerns. Amid the Industrial Revolution, middle-class women felt increasingly disconnected from nature. The publication of Charles Darwin’s groundbreaking work, *Origin of Species*, in 1859 further fueled a fascination with natural history.
Their solution? Wearing living creatures as a tribute to nature’s beauty.
A young Englishwoman traveling in Brazil once remarked, 'The mountains teemed with vibrant insect life, including brilliantly colored butterflies and beetles, some of which I had only seen preserved in brooches, earrings, rings, or tie-pins.' Ironically, the demand for insect jewelry nearly drove the most stunning species to extinction.
The trend shifted from jewelry featuring insect parts or taxidermied hummingbirds to more extreme designs, such as live insects housed in delicate cages pinned to clothing. Some larger beetles were even adorned with genuine gemstones and attached to garments using fine chains.
Even today, in Mexico’s Yucatan region, vibrant makech beetles are decorated with rhinestones and other embellishments, then secured with a gold chain and pin that acts as a leash. This tradition is rooted in an ancient Mayan legend about a shaman who transformed a princess’s doomed lover into a dazzling beetle, allowing her to keep him close forever.
4. Jewelry Made from Uranium
How did I only just discover uranium glass? Though, to be fair, I live in a country that bans nuclear materials.
Uranium was once a common additive in glassmaking, used to create vibrant colors and fluorescence in decorative pieces. Some items contained up to 25% uranium oxide. Known as Vaseline glass or canary glass due to its yellow hue, it emits a striking green glow under UV light.
Before the dangers of radioactive materials were widely known, uranium-infused glass was commonly used to create tableware, serving dishes, and even jewelry. Some antique cloisonné pieces also owe their lighter hues to traces of uranium in the glaze.
Most uranium glass jewelry emits negligible radiation, barely detectable by sensitive Geiger counters and deemed safe. However, it’s understandable why many might hesitate to wear such items for extended periods.
3. Jewelry Made from Gallstones
Gallstones are hardened deposits of digestive fluid found in the gallbladder, a small organ beneath the liver. They vary in size and number and may or may not cause symptoms. Those who experience symptoms often undergo gallbladder removal surgery, a costly and uncomfortable process. While most people discard the removed stones, some have turned them into unique jewelry, embracing the idea of 'waste not, want not.'
As reported by Hindu Business Online, a hospital team extracted around 300 gallstones from a patient’s gallbladder. A creative staff member later crafted a matching set of jewelry, including a necklace, earrings, nose ring, and bracelet, using the stones.
In Punxsutawney, PA, a bead shop owner shared an unusual experience: 'A woman approached the counter with a ziplock bag filled with brownish, half-inch beads. They were irregularly shaped and lacked holes for stringing.' After her hospital discharge, her doctor had handed her the bag containing her recently removed gallstones. She requested the owner to drill holes in each stone and craft a necklace by stringing them together. He noted that while the stones felt like hard clay, they were fragile, and the drilling process emitted an unpleasant odor.
Nicole Angemi shared an Instagram photo of a rosary made by a man from his own gallstones. She explained, 'He had them removed five years ago and kept them, creating the rosary as a reminder to turn negative experiences into positive ones. He used 53 gallstones and crafted six fake ones to complete it.' She added, 'I absolutely LOVE this!!!'
It seems there’s no limit to human creativity.
2. Jewelry Made from Contact Lenses
Believe it or not, contact lens jewelry is a real trend! For those tired of plain eyes, there’s now an option to add some sparkle directly to their eyeballs.
Dutch artist and designer Eric Klarenbeek has fused contact lenses with delicate strands of crystals and diamonds, creating a teardrop-like effect that hangs from the wearer’s irises. It’s the ultimate accessory for the Instagram generation!
Klarenbeek explains, 'A contact lens transforms into jewelry, much like glasses have become a symbol of identity. Our fear of imperfection drives us to alter our surroundings and ourselves, chasing an idealized version of who we could be rather than who we are. Beauty standards are increasingly shaped by Photoshop, influencing even plastic surgery. Eye jewelry showcases our technological advancements while celebrating the beauty of imperfection.'
When asked about the risks of someone pulling on the jewelry, Klarenbeek replied, 'It simply falls out, or at worst, the wire might snap.' Let’s hope it doesn’t take the eyeball with it!
Meanwhile, in India, Dr. Chawan’s Shekhar Eye Research Center offers another form of eyeball adornment: contact lenses embedded with a ring of diamonds. This innovation turns the eyeball into the latest canvas for accessorizing. Interestingly, the idea was inspired by jewels set in his wife’s teeth.
1. Jewelry Made from Roadkill
Montana-based jewelry designer and longtime vegetarian April Hale accidentally hit a squirrel with her car and chose to take responsibility for its death rather than drive away. She called a friend to help her cook and eat the squirrel, explaining, 'It’s about environmental responsibility, and we need to do more of it. I wanted to honor the squirrel, show reverence, and ensure its life nourished me. It was my way of taking accountability and reusing what I had taken.'
Hale had been using found animal fur in her designs before the squirrel incident, though she admits she was initially hesitant to handle roadkill. Now, she collects deceased animals, skins and cleans them, and transforms them into jewelry.
Hale said, 'When you choose to wear something, you’re acknowledging it as a beautiful representation of yourself or your values. It’s even more meaningful when it comes from the earth. It connects us to the ground we walk on and the animals around us. We breathe the same air and are made of the same essence.'
Similarly, London-based jewelry designer Kat Arnold, a committed vegan, discovered her passion when she found a puppy’s skull on a Cuban beach. 'I became fascinated by it and couldn’t leave it behind. I brought it back to the UK and taught myself to clean it using online resources. Cleaning it made me feel a deep connection to the bones.'
As a vegan, Arnold refuses to use bones from animals killed for human consumption. Instead, she sources bones from rabbits, crows, magpies, wild cats and dogs, snakes, badgers, squirrels, and owls, often collecting them from roadsides, woods, or local authorities. She describes her work as turning 'natural waste' into 'timeless treasures.'
Like April, Kat acknowledges that many might hesitate to wear her distinctive pieces. 'Society hasn’t fully embraced the idea of wearing bones as jewelry,' she admitted. 'Some people react with shock or disgust at my designs, yet they have no issue wearing leather shoes.'
